Mount St. Helens, Washington: Spirit Lake and Windy Ridge

Data for Mount Saint Helens is somewhat ambivalent. The topography available
online from the U.S. Geological Survey dates from 1981 and shows changes due to
the eruption. But all the other data layers - hydrography, roads, and so, date
from 1978! Thus the data show the pre-eruption glaciers, outline of
Spirit Lake, and the now-buried course of old state highway 504. On the maps
above, the buried highway is dark purple, new lakes are light blue and the
debris flow is light brown. Post-eruption data from U.S. Forest Service maps.

Heading east on U.S. 12. From Johnston Ridge to Windy Ridge is 5 miles
straight line, over 100 miles and three hours by road.

Left and below: the spectacular glacial valley of Clearwater Creek.

Mount Saint Helens hidden by the clouds.

New growth since 1980.

Clearwater Creek valley and the edge of the blast area.

Two
miners were killed here during the 1980 eruption. Their car was flung across
the road.